# COS 2016: Helping Second-Timer Rental Families Own a Home Again

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2016-04-11T12:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/cos-2016-helping-second-timer-rental-families-own-a-home-again
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Transactions & Deals

## Featured rationale

The grant, concessionary financing and priority allocation could help qualifying rental families re-enter homeownership while increasing demand for smaller, shorter-lease public flats.

## AI summary

The Fresh Start Housing Scheme offered eligible second-timer rental families a $35,000 grant and shorter 45-to-65-year leases for 2-room Flexi flats from late 2016.

## Original article

The Ministry of National Development announced details of the new Fresh Start Housing Scheme, as well as enhancements to the Tenants Priority Scheme at the Committee of Supply debate today. These measures will help second-timer (ST) families living in public rental housing to own a home again, to build a more inclusive society. 

Fresh Start Housing Scheme 

ST families may face greater difficulties buying a home, compared to first-timers who are helped by HDB housing grants to buy their first home. Under the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, we will integrate greater financial assistance with personal responsibility and social support to help those who are determined to give themselves and their children a fresh start in a new home. 

Exceptional Measures to Improve Housing Affordability 

MND and HDB will help the families with young children own a 2-room Flexi flat through the following measures: 

a. The family can buy a 2-room (2R) Flexi flat in the Build-to-Order (BTO) or Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) sales exercises, with a shorter lease ranging from 45 to 65 years, which will be more affordable. The chosen lease should last all owners and spouse-occupiers until at least age 95.

b. An HDB concessionary loan for the flat purchase, regardless of the number of HDB loans the household has taken before; 

c. The resale levy will be capped at $30,000 (for a 99-year lease), and adjusted downwards based on the chosen lease; 

d. A Fresh Start Housing Grant of $35,000 for a 60-year or 65-year lease, which will be adjusted downwards for flats with shorter lease; 

i. A fixed $20,000 will be disbursed just before key collection, regardless of the chosen lease; 

ii. The remaining grant amount of up to $15,000 will be disbursed in annual tranches over five years after key collection; 

e. Priority allocation in HDB sales exercises, within a quota of up to 10% under the Tenants Priority Scheme. 

Together, these measures will provide significant help for these ST families to own a home again (see Annex A). Apart from improved housing affordability, they will also be able to use their CPF to pay for a flat of their own, instead of paying rental in cash. 

Targeted Approach with Social Support 

The scheme will take a targeted approach and focus on families with young children. To qualify for the scheme, the family must meet the following criteria: 

a. Form an ST family nucleus and the parent(s) must be at least age 35 and below age 55. Parent(s) can be married, divorced or widowed; 

b. Household has at least one Singapore citizen parent and at least one citizen child below age 16; 

c. At least one parent in stable employment in the preceding 12 months; 

d. Occupied a public rental flat for at least two years, without accumulating three or more months of rental arrears at any point in the preceding 12 months; and 

e. Undergo assessment by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and qualify for a Letter of Social Assessment (LSA). To qualify for the LSA, families must be stable, be in stable employment, manage their finances well, and the children must be attending school regularly. 

f. Households who book a flat under Fresh Start must undergo annual check-ins to renew their LSA until five years after key collection, for them to receive the various tranches of the grant. 

These criteria ensure that families are committed and ready for homeownership. In addition, families will need to meet a Minimum Occupation Period of 20 years, to ensure a stable home for the children. MSF will check in with the families regularly to ensure that they are doing well, and will link them with partner agencies for assistance if needed. 

Implementation 

The Fresh Start Housing Scheme will be implemented in late 2016. MND, HDB and MSF are working out the implementation details, which will be announced nearer the implementation date. 

Tenants’ Priority Scheme 

Beyond Fresh Start, we will extend the Tenants’ Priority Scheme to second-timer families in public rental, to give them greater priority when they apply for a flat from HDB. Currently only first-timer families in public rental are eligible. 

Under the scheme, 10% of the 2R Flexi and 3-room flat supply will be set aside for these families, and shared with those applying under the Resettlement, Relocation, and Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). This will be implemented from the May 2016 sales exercises.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 2016年拨款委员会辩论：协助第二次申请租屋家庭再次置业

国家发展部在今日拨款委员会辩论中公布了全新“重新出发购屋计划”（Fresh Start Housing Scheme）的细节，以及对“租户优先计划”（Tenants Priority Scheme）的加强措施。这些措施将协助居住在公共出租组屋的第二次申请（ST）家庭再次置业，以建设更具包容性的社会。

重新出发购屋计划

与首次申请者可获得建屋发展局（HDB）购屋津贴以购买首套住房相比，第二次申请家庭在购屋时可能面临更大困难。在“重新出发购屋计划”下，我们将把更大的财务援助与个人责任及社会支持相结合，协助那些决心为自己和子女在新家中重新出发的家庭。

改善住房负担能力的特别措施

国家发展部与建屋发展局将通过以下措施，协助育有年幼子女的家庭拥有两房式灵活组屋（2-room Flexi flat）：

a. 家庭可在预购组屋（BTO）或剩余组屋销售（SBF）销售活动中购买租约较短（介于45至65年）的两房式（2R）灵活组屋，价格将更可负担。所选择的租约应至少覆盖所有业主及配偶住户至95岁；

b. 无论该家庭此前已取得多少次建屋发展局贷款，均可获得建屋发展局优惠贷款用于购屋；

c. 转售征费上限为30,000元（按99年租约计算），并按所选择的租约相应调低；

d. 针对60年或65年租约提供35,000元的“重新出发购屋津贴”，租约较短的组屋将相应调低；

i. 不论所选择的租约长短，在领取钥匙前固定发放20,000元；

ii. 余下最多15,000元的津贴将在领取钥匙后分五年按年分期发放；

e. 在建屋发展局销售活动中获得优先配售，在“租户优先计划”下最多占10%配额。

这些措施合起来将为这些第二次申请家庭再次置业提供显著帮助（见附件A）。除改善住房负担能力外，他们还能以公积金支付自有组屋，而不必以现金支付租金。

结合社会支持的针对性做法

该计划将采取针对性做法，聚焦育有年幼子女的家庭。要符合计划资格，家庭须满足以下条件：

a. 组成第二次申请家庭核心单位，且父母至少年满35岁、未满55岁。父母可为已婚、离婚或丧偶；

b. 家庭至少有一名新加坡公民父母，以及至少一名未满16岁的公民子女；

c. 至少一名父母在过去12个月内有稳定就业；

d. 已入住公共出租组屋至少两年，且在过去12个月内任何时候均未累计拖欠租金三个月或以上；以及

e. 接受社会及家庭发展部（MSF）评估，并取得社会评估信（LSA）。要符合社会评估信资格，家庭必须稳定、就业稳定、妥善管理财务，且子女必须定期上学。

f. 在“重新出发”计划下预订组屋的家庭，须接受年度跟进以更新其社会评估信，直至领取钥匙后五年，方可领取各期津贴。

这些条件确保家庭已有决心并为置业做好准备。此外，家庭须遵守最短居住期20年的规定，以确保子女有稳定的家。社会及家庭发展部将定期跟进这些家庭，确保他们状况良好，并在有需要时将其转介至合作机构以获得协助。

实施

“重新出发购屋计划”将于2016年下旬实施。国家发展部、建屋发展局与社会及家庭发展部正拟定实施细节，将在接近实施日期时公布。

租户优先计划

除“重新出发”计划外，我们还将把“租户优先计划”扩展至公共出租组屋中的第二次申请家庭，使他们在向建屋发展局申请组屋时获得更大优先权。目前仅公共出租组屋中的首次申请家庭符合资格。

在该计划下，两房式灵活组屋及三房式组屋供应的10%将预留给这些家庭，并与在搬迁安置、重新安置及选择性整体重建计划（SERS）下申请的家庭共用。此措施将从2016年5月的销售活动起实施。